State Library Of Victoria Receives 2009 Bushfire Message Books

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3rd February 2010, 03:56pm - Views: 1215





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State Library of Victoria

328 Swanston St

Melbourne Victoria 3000




MEDIA RELEASE


3 February 2010


State Library of Victoria receives 2009 Bushfire Message Books


Melbourne, Australia – Today the Honourable John Brumby MP, Premier of Victoria formally handed

over the 2009 Victorian Bushfire Message Book Collection to the State Library of Victoria. 


The 2009 Victorian bushfires disaster led to an enormous outpouring of generosity and support from

individuals, communities and organisations. The people of Australia were invited to express their

sympathy and support by writing messages on pages that were made available at many venues

throughout the country (including the State Library of Victoria). Together with messages sent from

individuals in other parts of the world, these pages were assembled to form the 2009 Victorian

Bushfire Message Book Collection. 


The 2009 Victorian Bushfire Message Book Collection contains 60 bound message books and

objects and documents including: yellow ribbons, bells and wreaths from the 2009 National Day of

Mourning and ‘Together for Victoria’ memorial service; teddy bears from the United Kingdom;

illustrations from Japanese students; posters from Hawaiian school children; a copy of a bushfire

book presented to Her Majesty the Queen; a DVD copy of the ‘Sound Relief’ concerts; letters from

Australian government officials; consular letters from around the world; and blog entries submitted to

Channel Nine’s ‘Today’ show during the period of the 2009 fires.


A selection of message books and bushfire material will be on public display in the Library’s Cowen

Gallery from 4 February until 17 March 2010. All of the 2009 Victorian Bushfire Message Book

Collection is available to view by request through the Library’s Heritage Reading Room.


CEO and State Librarian, Anne-Marie Schwirtlich, said that it was an honour for the State Library to

receive the message books into its collections


‘The State Library has documented the story of Victoria for more than 150 years – who we are, what

we have seen and what we’ve experienced together. The messages in these books will be preserved

for generations to come. They will be read and remembered. The State Library is proud to house

them for the people of Victoria,’ she said.    


State Library collections contain bushfire material dating back to the Black Thursday fires of 1851 and

include information, reports (including Royal Commissions), and pictures of every major Victorian

bushfire event since. 


Immediately after the 2009 Victorian bushfires State Library staff created a guide to bushfire

information and resources. It can be found online at: http://guides.slv.vic.gov.au/bushfires


-ENDS-

People National State Library Of Victoria 3 image

State Library of Victoria

328 Swanston St

Melbourne Victoria 3000




Media inquiries:

Matthew van Hasselt, State Library of Victoria

Ph: 03 8664 7263 Email: mvanhasselt@slv.vic.gov.au






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